Environmental Laboratory Receives CAL ELAP Accreditation

The "CAL ELAP" provides evaluation and accreditation of environmental testing laboratories to ensure the quality of analytical data used for regulatory purposes to meet the requirements of the state's food, drinking water, wastewater, shellfish, and hazardous waste programs. The state agencies, which monitor the environment, use the analytical data from these accredited laboratories. ELAP certified laboratories have demonstrated capability to analyze environmental samples using approved methods.

"In an aggressive effort to continually improve our standards, we've recently received our accreditation with ELAP for the Total Coliform and E. coli methods using the Colisure methodology for potable waters," said Mark Wallin, EMLab's laboratory manager. "Shortly we'll include the MPN methodology for Total and Fecal Coliforms, Fecal Streptococci and Enterococci in potable waters, surface waters, and wastewater. We're also in the process of taking the proficiency testing for the membrane filtration method for Total and Fecal Coliforms, Fecal Streptococci and Enterococci in potable waters, surface waters, and wastewater, along with the Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) method," Wallin added.

The California Environmental Laboratory Improvement Act took effect on January 1, 1989. It established within the Department of Health Services (DHS) an accreditation program for environmental health laboratories. Under the Act, accreditation is required of an environmental laboratory for producing analytical data for California regulatory agencies (Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management in DHS, Department of Toxic Substances Control in California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture).

The data may be used to demonstrate compliance with applicable requirements of drinking water, wastewater, and food for pesticide residues, shellfish testing, and hazardous waste sections of the California Health and Safety and Water Codes.